Parliament adopts bill to boost clean energy production

Energy

Thursday, 26 July 2018 10:49

Parliament adopts bill to boost clean energy production

(Togo First) - On July 24th, Togo’s parliament adopted a bill to promote power generation from clean sources. This is in line with the government’s 2018-2030 electrification strategy under which it plans to bring renewables’ share in the country’s energy mix to 50%.

The new bill will surely help boost investment in clean energies, but also efficiently tackle various challenges related to generation, commercialization and use of clean energy.

The present law sets a global legal framework to implement clean energy projects, be it for local consumption or export. “The government is quite satisfied of the parliament’s decision as this law will help it move from theory to action and implement strategic axes of the new national electrification plan,” said André Johnson, the minister of environment and forest resources.

Under Togo’s plan to provide access to reliable, modern energy for all by 2030, 300 mini solar plants are to be set via private-public partnerships, hydropower dams are to be built and 550,000 households are to be provided with solar kits. The new bill, authorities believe, will greatly contribute to the concretization of these various goals.

“Today’s vote will support the implementation of our energy strategy which is based, among others, on clean energy development, namely solar and hydropower, as well as on environmental protection, in line with the sustainable development goal 7 (SDG7). Indeed, this goal aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all,” Johnson said after the adoption.

Fiacre E. Kakpo

REFORMS OVERVIEW

STARTING A BUSINESS (more info)

At the fifteenth position, worldwide, and first in Africa, under the Starting a Business index of the 2020 Doing Business ranking, Togo sustains its reformative dynamics with more reforms….

ENFORCING CONTRACTS (more info)

Compared to some years ago when it was one of the lowest rankers under the Doing Business’ Enforcing Contracts indicator, Togo, leveraging many efforts to improve its business climate, was able to jump significantly on the index in the recent years... .

CONTRACT EXECUTION (more info)

Creation of special chambers of commerce for small debts • Creation of chambers of commerce at the Court of Appeal • Civil and commercial cases now handled by distinct clerks • Establishment of commercial courts in Lomé and Kara • Lawyers and bailiffs now have access to the FORSETI COMMERCIAL platform • A maximum period of 100 days was fixed to settle a commercial dispute .

TRADING ACROSS BORDERS (more info)

In comparison to previous years,Togo has significantly improved its ranking under the“Trading across borders” indicator by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

In comparison to previous years, Togo has significantly improved its ranking on the “Trading across borders” index by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitalization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (more info)

After moving from the 133rd to 127th place under the 2020 Doing Business’ construction permit index, Togo intends to reiterate this feat in the coming edition of the global ranking. To this end, it has introduced this year multiple reforms.

GETTING ELECTRICITY (more info)

Over the past two years, Togo’s ranking under the Doing Business’ Getting electricity and water indicator has increased consistently. Owing this performance to multiple reforms aimed at making it easier for businesses to access power and water, Lomé plans to introduce even more reforms this year to keep up its improvements.

REGISTERING A PROPERTY (more info)

Out of all the 'Doing Business’ indicators, Property Registration is where Togo has improved the most since 2018. Indeed, after spending years in the lowest part of this ranking, the country now seeks to beat Rwanda which is the best performer on this index in Africa. To do so, Lomé has been introducing many reforms, with the latest batch implemented this year.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (more info)

From professionalization to digitization, through legislative regulations, Togo’s public procurement framework is constantly being modernized. Several reforms have been implemented to improve the sector much to the benefit of the private sector, which is the focus of the National Development Plan.

PAYING TAXES AND DUTIES (more info)

To improve its business environment, Togo introduced some important reforms related to the payment of tax and duties. From the replacement of some taxes to the cancellation of others through exemptions, the country has only one objective: offer the most attractive tax framework to investors and economic operators. To achieve this, the authorities relied on digitization.